I doubt there are many varieties well adapted to Houston. What I'd think about is something like Chandler planted this fall for harvest next spring. I'd do it on black plastic. No strawberry is going to take kindly to Houston summers. So a short-season, annual system is likely your best bet. But I'm no strawberry expert. Maybe someone has a better idea. The Fruitnut

Not new to me in terms of having seen them before, but I don't grow them.They have been around for several years now--probably 5 or 6 years. Last year Wal-Mart had the pink flowering strawberries in the garden center in fairly large containers---probably gallon size or just a little smaller. I think the variety they had was called "Panda" or "Pink Panda". This year, Park Seed has seed for a variety that has flowers in different shades of color (white, red, pink) on the same plant. I'll link it below. This is the first variety I've seen with flowers in multiple colors. Here is a link that might be useful: Rainbow Treasure Strawberry

These recipes are out of my Holiday Celebrations Cook Book I've made all and they are great. Hot Spiced Cider 2 quarts apple cider 2/3 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup 3 cinnamon sticks 1/2 tsp whole cloves 1 lemon, sliced Cinnamon sticks and lemon slices (optional) In medium saucepan combine cider, corn syrup, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon slices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat: simmer 15 minutes. Remove spices. If desired, garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick and lemon slice. Makes about 10 servings. Hot Holiday Punch 4 cups apple cider 1 cup granulated suar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 cinnamon stick 12 whole cloves 2 cups grapefruit juice 2 cups orange juice orange slices (optional) Maraschino cherry halves (optional) Whole cloves (optional) Combine apple cider and sugars in large saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugars dissolve. Add cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Add grapefruit and orange juices. Heat, but do not boil. Strain into heatproof punch bowl. Garnish with orange slices decorated with maraschino cherry halves and whoe cloves. Serve in heatproof punch cups. Makes 8 8oz servings. Linda

You could do it in a crockpot, but you would need to put the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and lemon slices in a tea ball or wrap them together in cheese cloth so you would get the flavor right. Or you could heat some of the cider, all of the brown sugar, and the cinnamon, cloves, lemon in a pot on the stove, simmer it a while, then add it to the rest of the cider and cranberry juice already heating in the crockpot.